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<DIV>"But it's up to the individual to study the Scriptures and come up with an
understanding of the social issues of the day." </DIV>
<DIV>So no real stand or values at all...just everyone doing what they want??
</DIV>
<DIV>Ah, more enabling churches. </DIV>
<DIV>PK</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dickschmidt@moscow.com href="mailto:dickschmidt@moscow.com">Dick
Schmidt</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, June 03, 2005 10:07
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Churches unite on
the left</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>This is what is happening on the right coast in the Raleigh/Durham area.
Sounds like some people have decided that God is not a republican.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dick Schmidt</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story-hed><FONT size=4><STRONG>Churches unite on the
left</STRONG></FONT></SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=story-byline>By YONAT SHIMRON,
Staff Writer</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story-byline><STRONG>The News &
Observer</STRONG><BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN class=story-body>Determined not to let
conservative Christians dominate the faith, 14 area churches have banded
together to convince wavering believers there is more than one way to be a
Christian. </DIV>
<P>Progressivechurches is the name of the new coalition, and it has taken out
a catchy ad running in several area newspapers. The group also has a Web site,
<A href="http://www.progressivechurches.org/" target=_new>www.
progressivechurches.org</A>.
<P>"Almost given up on Christianity?" it reads. "We understand."
<P>The coalition has so far identified three common issues: the inclusion of
gays and lesbians, the need to protect the environment, and a desire to be
more responsible global citizens.</SPAN>
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<P>"We feel the primary understanding of Christianity in mainstream America is
that of the evangelical right," said the Rev. Doug Long, the pastor of North
Raleigh United, a United Church of Christ congregation. "We want people to
know there are Christians who think of things in a different way."
<P>The churches, belonging to seven different Protestant denominations, do not
agree on all the "values" issues so prominent in the news. But that's the
point, they say. They don't have to.
<P>"Some people see it as dodging the issue," said the Rev. Joanne VerBurg,
pastor of Covenant Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ congregation in
Cary that is part of the coalition. "But it's up to the individual to study
the Scriptures and come up with an understanding of the social issues of the
day."
<P>Progressivechurches was formed shortly after the presidential elections
last year when liberals woke up to find that moral values had carried the
election, especially values advanced by evangelicals, such as ending abortion,
restricting research into stem cells from human embryos and limiting marriage
to heterosexual couples.
<P><B>Politics and preachers</B>
<P>The group is also concerned by the close association between evangelicals
and the Republican Party. That association has only grown bolder since the
elections.
<P>Recently, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist joined several religious
leaders at a Kentucky church telecast and accused Democratic senators of being
"against people of faith" because they opposed some of President Bush's
judicial nominees.
<P>Closer to home, a Baptist pastor in the Western North Carolina town of
Waynesville resigned after nine members of his church complained they were
thrown out for voting for presidential challenger John Kerry.
<P>These instances suggest that Christians can only vote one way, an idea
these churches in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough and Raleigh reject.
<P>"Christianity means more than what James Dobson says it does," said the
Rev. Paul Davis, interim pastor at the Hillsborough United Church of Christ
congregation, referring to the child psychologist and radio personality who
has been an influential behind-the-scenes player on national issues.
<P>Soon after the group organized, it was surprised to discover that the Web
domain name had not been snapped up. Members said it was another sign that
they needed to let their voices be heard.
<P>"I don't think there's anything more political than silence," Long said.
"Silence means endorsing the status quo."
<P>Their efforts are not without precedent. In Jacksonville, Fla., a group
called Christian Alliance for Progress has started up with a similar agenda.
National groups such as the Washington-based Sojourners have long complained
that evangelicals aren't as concerned with poverty and other social justice
issues.
<P>Just what the group will do next has not been determined. But Long, who has
spearheaded it, said he's encouraged. Recently, a woman approached him after
services and said she wished his church were closer to where she lived. Long
was able to give her the Web address and point her to like-minded churches
closer to home.</S! pan><BR></P></SPAN>
<P>
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